We’re less than 24 hours away from the NFL in all it’s glory. This has been a wild and crazy year, but we’ve finally made it. One of my favorite parts is fantasy football. One of my favorite aspects of fantasy football has become playing on DraftKings. Every week is like a new puzzle to figure out. Whether you are more of a cash game player or a tournament player, each presents a unique challenge. Let’s take a look at my favorite Week 1 DraftKings plays.
DraftKings Plays for Week 1
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson (BAL) – $8,100 v CLE
The reigning MVP fittingly starts off the year as the most expensive quarterback option on the slate. Lamar, despite being so expensive, makes for an attractive cash game option. His rushing gives him an insanely high floor, unlike any other player. This makes him one of the safest players you can plug into your lineup. The main problem is that choosing Lamar makes it tough to pay up at other positions. Even still, my cash game quarterback strategy this year will mostly entail either paying up for Lamar or finding cheap value.
Most rushing yards among QBs on designed runs in 2019:
1. Lamar Jackson – 776
2. Kyler Murray – 341
3. Josh Allen – 180
4. Taysom Hill – 139
5. Dak Prescott – 122 pic.twitter.com/6vcKPVO9GE— PFF (@PFF) September 12, 2020
Cam Newton (NE) – $6,100 v MIA
“Comeback Cam” SZN is underway and it should start off with a nice, soft landing spot against the Dolphins. Miami was one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year and they didn’t do much in the offseason to improve. Cam has always been a great fantasy option due to his rushing ability but he’s been injured recently. We should find out how the Patriots plan to employ their new weapon and I’m guessing coach Belicheck will take advantage of Cam’s ability on the ground in this one.
Tyrod Taylor (LAC) – $5,600 @ CIN
I just wrote about Tyrod in my Stream Team article. This boils down to him being a mobile quarterback in a great matchup. The Bengals allowed the most rushing yards to quarterbacks last year which should give Taylor a great floor in this one. He should be able to chip in a good amount with his legs while taking advantage of his weapons. Tyrod is my favorite option if you are looking to save some salary to spend up elsewhere.
Others to Consider: Josh Allen (BUF) – $6,500 v NYJ, Gardner Minshew II (JAX) – $5,800 v IND, Mitchell Trubisky (CHI) – $5,400 @ DET
Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey (CAR) – $10,000 v LV
That’s an expensive price tag but if there’s anyone that’s worth it, it’s CMC. He was routinely priced even higher than this last year and almost always paid off. There’s nobody in the NFL that brings McCaffrey’s level of floor and ceiling combination. He’s as matchup-proof as they come due to his heavy involvement in the passing game. There’s been a coach and quarterback change in Carolina, but that shouldn’t be of too much worry for fantasy football’s best player. Last year I nearly always plugged McCaffrey in my lineup first and built around him and that might end up being a common strategy again this season. He should be heavily owned, especially in cash games
Josh Jacobs (LV) – $6,800 @ CAR
On the other side of this game, we have sophomore sensation, Josh Jacobs. I spent most of the offseason fading Jacobs due to my concerns about his pass game usage, only to recommend him the first week. His pass game usage is still a concern to me, but this looks like a week where that won’t matter too much. Defenses change so much year to year, as I’ve mentioned before, however, this looks like a good defense to bet against. The Panthers were one of the worst in the NFL last year, especially against the run, and could be even worse this year after the loss of captain Luke Kuechly. This looks like a smash spot for Jacobs.
Austin Ekeler (LAC) – $7,000 @ CIN
Be still my beating heart. Ekeler was one of my favorite targets all draft season and is one of my favorite plays this week. I don’t want to get too wrapped up in matchups, but the Bengals look like they could be one of the worst defenses in the NFL again this year. My main reason for loving Ekeler is the high floor he brings because of his pass game involvement. Outside of CMC, there’s no running back more involved in the passing game. With Melvin Gordon gone, he should see even more on the ground as well. In the first four games of 2019 when Melvin was out, Ekeler saw double-digit carries in three of them and scored more PPR points than any running back besides for McCaffrey. Ekeler will be a staple in cash lineups all season.
Does this really look like a guy that's gonna let you down come Sunday?
Yeah…. I didn't think so pic.twitter.com/gJf8zBFLz8
— ✴️Rob Norton✴️ (@norton0723) September 12, 2020
Tarik Cohen (CHI) – $4,900 @ DET
Cohen had a disappointing 2019 but is looking to bounce back in 2020. Cohen is like a poor man’s Austin Ekeler. He brings a very nice floor in the full PPR scoring format due to his heavy pass game involvement. The matchup with the Lions this week looks like a favorable one as well. Teammate David Montgomery also comes into this one banged up. There were legitimate questions as to whether he would suit up for this one and although he looks like he’ll be active, I’d expect they try to get Cohen a bit more involved in this one. If you are looking to save a bit of salary to pay up elsewhere, Cohen should be a strong consideration.
Others to Consider: Dalvin Cook (MIN) – $7,900 v GB, Boston Scott (PHI) – $4800 vs WAS, Antonio Gibson (WAS) – $4,000 v PHI, Kenyan Drake (ARI) – $6,400 @ SF
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas (NO) – $9,000 v TB
Michael Thomas at home. Those are really the only four words I should need to say to convince you to throw him into your lineup. In 2019 he averaged 28.1 fantasy points per game at home. That’s simply ridiculous. Go plug him in right now. If you need more reasoning, he’ll get a matchup against the Buccaneers this week. The Bucs improved down the stretch and I’m not even advocating that they are necessarily an easy matchup, but more so that this game could turn into a shootout. I think Sean Payton and Drew Brees are going to want to establish dominance against new divisional foe Tom Brady. Thomas should be in line for a monster performance as a result.
TEs Vance McDonald and Nick Vannett combined for 1.3 PPR this week vs. Arizona. The only true, math-supported flow chart that exists is this one. PLAY MICHAEL THOMAS AT HOME. pic.twitter.com/TiYHoSuBFi
— Derek Carty (@DerekCarty) December 12, 2019
Adam Thielen (MIN) – $6,700 v GB
Thielen has been a certified baller when healthy the past couple of seasons. In 2017 he was the PPR WR11 on a per-game basis. In 2018 he improved to the PPR WR7 on a per-game basis. Last season he was injured most of the year but came back to ball out in the playoffs. Heading into 2020 he looks to be fully healthy and in store for a big-time bounce-back campaign and I think that starts this week. With Stefon Diggs out of town and Gary Kubiak at the helm, I’m expecting Thielen to get fed a heavy dose of targets early and often.
DJ Chark Jr (JAX) – $6,300 v IND
Chark was one of the biggest out-of-nowhere breakouts in 2019. As a sophomore last year, he showed instant chemistry with rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew. Now entering his third season and with a full offseason together with Minshew, the arrow is pointing up. It also helps that he plays for a Jaguars team that looks like it could be one of the worst in the NFL this year and could be forced into throwing early and often. A Minshew-Chark stack should be all kinds of fun in Week 1.
DeSean Jackson (PHI) – $4,900 @ WAS
Death, taxes, and DJax in “Week 1 revenge games” are about the only three certainties left these days. On a serious note, Jackson is, surprisingly, the only fully healthy wide receiver for the Eagles right now. Alshon Jeffery won’t be playing and rookie Jalen Reagor, while it looks like he’ll miraculously be active, is dealing with a shoulder issue of his own. It only helps that DJax hung an 8/154/2 line on Washington in Week 1 last year.
DeSean Jackson revenge game history #science
5-117-1
4-126-0
4-40-0
4-55-0
3-102-1
4-129-1
5-67-0
8-154-2— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 7, 2020
Others to Consider: Davante Adams (GB) – $7,300 @ MIN, Terry McLaurin (WAS) – $5,600 v PHI, Marvin Jones (DET) – $5,500 v CHI, Anthony Miller (CHI) – $5,000 @ CHI, Parris Campbell (IND) – $3,900 @ JAX, Stefon Diggs (BUF) – $6,400 v NYJ
Tight Ends
George Kittle (SF) – $7,200 @ NYG
“Play your tight end against the Cardinals” was the name of the game in 2019. It looks like that should continue at least for one more week in 2020. Kittle is by far the most expensive tight end option on the slate. He’s also by far the safest option as well. The 49ers are dealing with injuries to their wide receiver corps. Both Deebo Samuel and rookie Brandon Aiyuk are dealing with injuries right now, leaving Kittle as the last man standing. This game could be a sneaky high scoring, fast-paced game, and one in which Kittle should eat like a fat kid at a Golden Corral.
Hayden Hurst (ATL) – $4,300 v SEA
New year, new me for Hayden Hurst. After not being fully utilized last year behind stud Mark Andrews, Hurst now has his chance to shine after being dealt to Atlanta. He couldn’t have asked for a much better landing spot as he’s going from the most run-heavy team in the NFL to one of the most pass-heavy teams in the NFL. Quarterback Matt Ryan has been known to target the tight end heavily as we saw with Austin Hooper last season. Hurst should be able to slide right into that role. This matchup looks easy on paper as Seattle was one of the worst against the tight end last season, but they now have Jamal Adams which will help tremendously. Still, this game looks to be a shootout and Hurst should be involved enough to return value at his low salary.
Chris Herndon (NYJ) – $3,300 @ BUF
Herndon had an incredible rookie season in 2018 before disappointing last year. It was mostly due to suspension and injury, however, and he’s looking to bounce back in 2020 with a big season. The matchup looks extremely tough as Buffalo has been stingy both against tight ends and in the passing game in general. As I’ve stated before, I don’t want to get too caught up in last year’s defense as it changes so much. Regardless of the matchup, Herndon looks to be in line for a heavy dose of targets in Week 1 with how banged up the Jets wide receivers are. Volume is the key here especially at his insanely low salary. Herndon makes for a perfect cost-saving option at tight end for your cash game lineups if you are looking to spend up elsewhere.
Others to Consider: Jack Doyle (IND) – $3,600 @ JAX, Zach Ertz (PHI) – $5,800 @ WAS, Mark Andrews (BAL) – $6,000 v CLE
Defense/Special Teams
In terms of choosing a defense/special teams, it’s the last spot I fill in every week. It’s pretty random but there are a few areas to gain an advantage. I look to target the heavily favorited teams as they usually are playing with a lead. This forces their opponent to throw it more often which can help lead to extra sacks and turnovers and hopefully a touchdown. Another aspect to target is turnover and sack-prone quarterbacks. With that being said, my advice is to fill out the rest of your lineup first and then pick your favorite D/ST out of the remaining money.
My Tentative Cash Game Lineup
- QB – Tyrod Taylor
- RB – Josh Jacobs
- RB – Boston Scott
- WR – Michael Thomas
- WR – Allen Robinson
- WR – DeSean Jackson
- TE – Chris Herndon
- Flex – Austin Ekeler
- DST – New York Jets
Make sure to tune in next week to see the results from my Week 1 DraftKings plays and to see the best picks for Week 2. Best of luck to everyone and let’s all enjoy some football and win some money!
